Modern designs of iceboats are very efficient, utilizing aerodynamic designs and low friction, and can achieve speeds as high as ten times the wind speed in good conditions. International DN iceboats often achieve speeds of 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph) while racing, and speeds as high as 59 knots (109 km/h; 68 mph) have been recorded.[3] Skeeters and older large stern-steerer iceboats can exceed 90 knots (170 km/h; 100 mph). The rumored, but unconfirmed, top speed of an iceboat is over 130 knots (240 km/h; 150 mph). One reference to a timed run on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin reported an "E-Skeeter" as having reached 137 knots (254 km/h; 158 mph). The same reference reported clocking a DN 60 iceboat on a closed course over black ice on Green Bay, Wisconsin at 94 knots (174 km/h; 108 mph). The stern-steerer Debutaunte, recently rebuilt, was timed over a measured mile at 124 knots (230 km/h; 143 mph) on the ice of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin in 1938.

"I'll bet those boats glide right over the iceholes, but the tip-ups can ding the boat or even puncture the hull."

The boaters stay away from the ice-fishing holes, and if they accidentally hit them, they go over and apologize and give them money. That's what I'm told. They work it out among themselves. There's no govt regulation on the ice.

The lake, however, is capable of wrecking the boats. A big crack opened up a few days ago, with the sound — I'm told — of 100 cannons. Nobody got hurt and no one fell in the 2-foot crack of open water, but one guy got flung 100 yards across the ice, I'm told. And a boat got destroyed.

When I was growing up around there it was mostly a sport for those who actually lived at the lakeshore. Are there ways now for people to transport their boats on and off the lakes?Are there iceboat landings?

I am very impressed and very envious. How fantastic that you are both enjoying the many things you can do outdoors in the winter. But this looks to be super fun. The comment about trying to slow down reminds me of the one and only time I went up in a hot air balloon. I learned too late that the pilot has very limited ability to land where she would like. We crashed through tree tops, barely missed power lines and tipped over in a muddy cow pasture. Very alarming. The iceboats fly!! Well fucking done!!

Makes me think all the research into MagLev trains is stupid. Find a way to put 500 people on a conveyance that runs on, say, 500 skate blades, put one decent turbofan engine in it, create tracks that maintain six inches of solid ice over a reinforced foundation, enclose the whole thing in a highly-reflective housing with simple spring-loaded baffles to let the air out when the FRICKING ICE-RIDING BULLET TRAIN SCREAMS THROUGH, and there's your 400 MPH eco-friendly city-to-city mass transportation right there. The view would suck, but who cares?